Extensible combs



June 20, 1961 N. L. SOLOMON 2,989,059

EXTENSIBLE COMES Filed Jan. 23, 1958 V 2%! FIG-:12

FIG. 5

INVENTOR /l/fl THAN A. SOLOMON ATTORNEY This invention relates to extensible combs for use in positioning or setting the hair upon the head. More particularly, the invention deals with a comb structure of the character described fashioned to form a plurality of pin-like members extensible one with respect to the other, each member including a straight side portion and a multiply kinked opposed side portion, which side portions collectively are adapted to engage and grip the hair in retaining the comb against displacement on the head.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. 1 is a face view of a part of a comb made according to my invention, illustrating one end portion thereof and a few of a multiplicity of extensible members which are employed.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial sections on the line 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 3 showing a slight modification.

In practice, I provide combs that may vary in length from two inches to eight or ten inches and, in FIG. 1, a part of one end portion of such a comb is shown to illustrate the structure employed. The comb comprises a plurality of relatively extensible members 10, each member comprising a straight side portion 11 and a multiply kinked side portion 12, the side portion '12 in the construction shown having two inward kinks 13 extending in the direction of the side portion 11 and spaced slightly therefrom, the kinks 13 being joined by a central outwardly extending bent portion 14, the latter being spaced slightly from the surface of the straight portion of an adjacent member.

The side portion 12 of each member joins the side 11 in a rounded portion 15, whereas the opposed end of the member 12 has an outwardly extending end 1-6 joining the straight portion 11 of an adjacent member in the sharply bent portion 17. This construction forms between the end 16 and the lower end 11 of the straight side 11 a V-shaped throat 18 for free admission of the hair in mounting the comb in the hair.

It will appear that the structure of each of the members is the same. Thus, like references will designate like parts in the respective members. With this construction, each member 10 is free to flex relatively to adjacent members and the side portions 11 and 12 are free to flex relatively to each other, but the comb is so tensioned as to normally maintain the parts substantial- 1y positioned, as illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawing, when the comb is not in use.

Considering FIG. 2 of the drawing, here it will appear that the strand from which the comb is formed may be said to be a flat wire. In other words, considering the sides 11 and 12, it will appear that both inner and outer surfaces of the sides 11 and 12 are flat and parallel to each other, the inner surfaces of the strip being indicated by the reference character 19 and the outer sur faces by the reference character 20 in FIG. 2.

Now turning to the showing in FIG. 3, here the structure is modified simply to provide similar flat sur- 2,989,059 Patented June 20, 1961 faces 19' on inner adjacent surfaces of the members of the comb, whereas the outer surfaces 29 are rounded. In other words, the cross-sectional contour of the wire from which the comb is formed will be the cross-sectional form in FIG. 3 of the drawing. It will be apparent, however, that the hair engaging surfaces of the comb, as at 19, are flat and parallel to each other.

For purposes of description, each member 10 of the comb assemblage comprises in itself relatively movable or extensible parts in that the sides 11 and 12 are resiliently coupled through the rounded portion 15. This perm-its the spreading of the sides in engagement with the hair and the gripping of the hair upon releasing the extension pull on the comb.

I claim:

1 An extensible comb of the character described comprising a plurality of closely arranged and aligned members, each member comprising a straight side and a kinked side, said sides being integrally joined in a rounded portion, said sides and rounded portion being of single strand thickness throughout the kinked side having a plurality of kinks arranged in close proximity to the straight side throughout all of said members, adjacent kinks being joined by outwardly extended rounded portions, said kinked side terminating in an end flaring with respect to the corresponding end of the straight side to form in each member a flared hair admission throat, and said strand being of greater width than thickness.

2. An extensible comb of the character described comprising a plurality of closely arranged and aligned members, each member comprising a straight side and a kinked side, said sides being integrally joined in a rounded portion, said sides and rounded portion being of single strand thickness throughout the 'kinked side having a plurality of kinks arranged in close proximity to the straight side throughout all of said members, adjacent kinks being joined by outwardly extended rounded portions, said kinked side terminating in an end flaring with respect to the corresponding end of the straight side to form in each member a flared hair admission throat, and said strand being of greater width than thickness, and the first named flared end of the kinked side joining the straight side of an adjacent member in an abrupt bend.

=3. An extensible comb of the character described comprising a plurality of closely arranged and aligned members, each member comprising a straight side and a kinked side, said sides being integrally joined in a rounded portion, said sides and rounded portion being of single strand thickness throughout the kinked side having a plurality of kinks arranged in close proximity to the straight side throughout all of said members, adjacent kinks being joined by outwardly extended rounded portions, said kinked side terminating in an end flaring with respect to the corresponding end of the straight side to form in each member a flared hair admission throat, and said strand being of greater width than thickness, the first named flared end of the kinked side joining the straight side of an adjacent member in an abrupt bend, and the rounded portion of the kinked side being arranged adjacent the straight side of an adjacent member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,465,746 Perney Mar. 29, 1949 2,547,295 Weeks Apr. 3, 1951 2,614,570 Hall Oct. 21, 1952 2,636,498 Servilla Apr. 28, 1953 2,669,239 Smith Feb. 16, 1954 

